The Gamma node applies gamma adjustment to heightfield or mask values. It behaves like gamma in an image editor: it remaps midtones more than extreme blacks or whites, changing perceived contrast without being a simple linear gain.

Gamma is most useful when you want to bias a terrain or mask toward lighter or darker mid-values without crushing lows or highs as aggressively as a Levels-style operation.

When to Use It

Use Gamma when you want to brighten or darken terrain or mask mid-values without remapping the full range linearly.

Practical Usage Tips

• Think "mid-value bias" rather than "contrast". For min or max shaping, normalize first with Levels or Remap, then use Gamma to bend the curve.
• Make small moves. Values like 0.85, 0.95, 1.05, and 1.15 are often enough.
• Use on masks deliberately. Gamma is a fast way to tune erosion, flow, snow, or vegetation masks without reauthoring them.
• Preview masks solo. A subtle change on terrain preview can be dramatic when used as a selector downstream.

Gamma and Color Textures

Gamma mistakes are a common cause of "washed out", "too dark", or "mushy mask" results. The key is distinguishing color textures from data textures.

Color vs Data

Color (usually sRGB or gamma-encoded):

• Albedo/BaseColor/Diffuse

Data (must remain linear):

• Roughness/Metalness/AO
• Normal maps
• Height/Displacement
• Masks/weightmaps/splatmaps

Rule of thumb: if it represents visible color, it's usually sRGB. If it represents numbers, it should be linear.

Import Tips

• Import color textures as sRGB. If treated as linear, they will usually appear too dark and respond oddly to edits.
• Import masks or data textures as linear. If sRGB or gamma decoding is applied, your masks will get "soft" and thresholds will not match what you expect.
• If a mask behaves unexpectedly, verify it has not been gamma-treated by the file format or exporter. This is common with image tools that assume sRGB.

Export Tips

• Export color textures as sRGB unless your target explicitly expects linear color.
• Export data textures as linear, and in the target tool or engine ensure they are imported as linear, often with "sRGB off".
• Avoid "fixing" pipeline mismatches by baking gamma into maps unless you control the entire pipeline. It is easy to double-apply later.

Common Symptoms

• Washed out color: gamma applied twice (double sRGB).
• Too dark color: missing sRGB decode (treated as linear).
• Weak or muddy masks: mask imported or exported as sRGB instead of linear.

Properties